National Republican., 1887-12-19
The Carlisle Conspiracy and the Edu.
catIonal Bill.

Representative O'Ferrall, OF Virginia,
makes confession which ought to be
good for the Democratic soul. He has
heard the complaints, loud and long, which
came from bis constituents because OF the
failure of the Blair educational bill In the
last Congress, and he hastens to make
amends by promising TO introduce that bill
at au early day, Iu doing so he is quoted
as confesslng that ''if It had been allowed
TO come TO u vote IN the last House it would
have passed by u majority of 40.n Add
he continues with great frankness "More
Democrats than Republicans opposed It, so
it's chances 10 this House are increased b.
the smallness OF the Democratic majority"
This frankness is refreshing. 1t is an
acknowledgment that Virginia did we'll to
leave at home majority Of the Democrats
who misrepresented her in the last Con.
gress, and that she would have done good
work still more thoroughly had she rejected
Mr.. O'Ferrall also.
VIII Mr., O'Ferrall be so good as to ex-
tend his confession little, and tell us just
why the educational bill was not "allowed
to come to vote In the last House 20 The
people Of Virginia believe 1t was because
Of the despotic sway of the Carlisle Morri-
son jupto, who overruled the majority In
several affairs to the detriment OF the peo-
pie. Carlisle refused to recognize any one
10 call up that bill. Has Mr.. O'Ferrall any
assurance that he will not exercise the
same arbitrary power again
The significance OF these questions is In
the fact that If Mr.. O'Ferrall cannot answer
them satisfactorily, another confession, more
buniliating than the first, will be IN order.
lie will have to tell why he voted to re-
elect a Speaker who refused to allow q
majority OF forty members to consider one
Of the most popular and beneficent meas.
ures proposed in Congress for many years.
Heidi not even oppose the nomination OF
fbeie hof III tile House did this alleged
representative Of Virginia propose a caudl-
date fer Speaker who would promote the
wishes or interests Of Virginia. So far as
tie record shows he was aud is a willing
accessory Of the legislative despotism
which for several years has suppressed
legislation OF the most vital interest to
Virginia.
The situation of the Blair bill may be
briefly stated. II will pass the Senate at an
eaIly day. 1t will be introduced In the
House and "huug up" IN committee. Tue
Senate Is Republican, the House Demo-
cratic. The dictators of the House wlll be
Informed that Mr. Cleveland is averse tc
the bill, aud yet afraid to WELD his favorite
weapon, the veto, on the eve of pre- i.
dental campaign. Therefore, smother II
or postpone action until another winter,
wien the veto power shall have gained It's
bumptious vigor Mr.. Carlisle has the
same power aud the same disposition to
ofstIuct needful legislation as ne h ii in
the ioity-uinth Congress, thanks to o Fei.
rail ard his comrades.
What will O'Ferrall DO about itP The
people Of Virginia will watch him. He can
not escape the ugly dilemma. Having
confessed, by word and by act, that he ha:
deliberately helped to promote the Carlisle
despotism, he cannot, by the introduction
of the Blair bill with flourish Of trumpets
avoid his share In the odium that will fall
upon the conspiracy to suffocate 1t.